What is cross-platform game development? By Eldar Kalinin Game Designer at RetroStyle Games | Mar 21, 2024 Ask a Question Do you remember your desire to play your favorite PC game while having access only to a smartphone or tablet? To deal with similar problems of thousands of people, cross-platform game development was created. Nowadays, we can play so many titles on multiple platforms and operating systems, such as PCs and consoles (like PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch), mobile devices (such as iOS and Android), and sometimes even web browsers. Actually, cross platform game development is a very convenient approach for companies aiming to save money and resources. Instead of developing separate game versions for mobile devices, PCs, and consoles, developers create a single one that will be deployed across multiple platforms. It can sound quite complicated but can be easily achieved through cross-platform game engines such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and more. However, we’ll tell you the details a little bit later. Our customers in different game genres have seamlessly switched from console to mobile. Ready to join them? CONTACT US Our List of Cross-Platform Games Sometimes people have no idea their favorite games are available on multiple platforms.Our team doesn’t agree with this statement. If you like something, play it every time you want to play. It isn’t necessary to wait until the end of the day. So, especially for you, we’ve created a list of the most famous titles in different game genres. Maybe, it’s finally a chance to update your mobile games list ;) Especially if the talk is about popular titles: “If you play a game on a PC you don't need to download the same game on a smartphone, right?” Our team doesn’t agree with this statement. If you like something, play it every time you want to play. It isn’t necessary to wait until the end of the day. So, especially for you, we’ve created a list of the most famous titles in different game genres. Maybe, it’s finally a chance to update your mobile games list ;) DEAD BY DAYLIGHT Dead by Daylight is an asymmetric survival horror game developed by Behaviour Interactive. Each match is a tense game of cat-and-mouse, with survivors working together to repair generators and escape while the killer hunts them down.Supported platforms: PC, consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch), and mobile devices. AMONG US Among Us is a multiplayer online game developed by InnerSloth. Players take on the roles of crewmates aboard a spaceship, with some being impostors whose goal is to sabotage the ship and eliminate the crewmates.Supported platforms: PC, iOS, and Android devices. FORTNITE Fortnite is a top-rated battle royale game developed by Epic Games. This game is well-known for its cartoonish art style and unique building mechanics alongside traditional shooting gameplay.Supported platforms: PC, consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch), and mobile devices. CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a first-person shooter game developed by Infinity Ward. Being a part of the long-running Call of Duty series, this game is still very popular due to its realistic graphics, intense gameplay, and unforgettable single-player campaign.Supported platforms: PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. FORZA HORIZON 4 Forza Horizon 4 is an open-world racing game developed by Playground Games. Players can participate in various races, challenges, and events solo or with other players in multiplayer mode.Supported platforms: PC and Xbox. Cross-Platform vs Cross-Play You already know that cross-platform development is about creating games for multiple platforms. In return, cross-play is a feature when players from different platforms can play together. The perfect examples are the games Fortnite and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. While someone plays a battle royale game or shooter on PC, their friends or opponents can play on PlayStation or Xbox. FEATURECROSS-PLATFORMCROSS-PLAY ImplementationRequires development to support multiple platformsRequires backend infrastructure and matchmaking systems BenefitsBroadens player base, increases accessibilityEnhances multiplayer experience, reduces fragmentation ChallengesPlatform-specific optimizations, compatibility issuesSynchronization of gameplay experiences, balancing issues Notable GamesAmong Us, Fortnite, Dead by DaylightCall of Duty: Modern Warfare, Rocket League Benefits of Cross-Platform Game Development Cross-platform game development is like using a powerful tool in making games. It means making games that work smoothly on many devices, like phones, game consoles, and more.The advantages of it are quite helpful. 1Broader audience reachBy creating a game that can run on PCs, consoles, and mobile devices, developers can reach a wider audience that increases the potential player base and revenue opportunities.2Increased accessibilityPlatform game development allows players to access the game from their preferred devices, whether it's a PC, console, or mobile device. This flexibility shows that game companies accommodate different player preferences and lifestyles.3Enhanced social interactionCross-platform play gives players from various platforms an opportunity to connect and play together. Also, friends who own different devices can still enjoy gaming sessions together.4Diverse player experiencePlayers can enjoy a bright and diverse gaming experience across all the platforms. This includes access to the same features, content updates, and multiplayer interactions.5Reduced development costsInstead of developing separate versions of the game for each platform, developers can use game porting services or create a single version that can be deployed across multiple platforms which leads to significant cost savings in terms of development, testing, and maintenance. Development with one Platform If you want to make a game for multiple platforms only with the use of Unreal or Unity game development services, cross platform game development is the best idea. Especially if you prefer to work with our team ;) CONTACT US Using a single game engine streamlines the development process, as developers can work within a familiar environment and utilize a consistent set of tools and workflows. Due to this, developers don’t need to learn and adapt to different environments for each platform.Additionally, leveraging just one cross-platform game engine ensures easier maintenance and updates. Developers can implement changes or optimizations to the game once and deploy them across all supported platforms. Version Control Version control is one more benefit of cross-platform game development, as there is a single source code for the game. With version control systems like Git, developers can track changes to the codebase and manage different versions of the game with ease.Also, developers can maintain a centralized repository containing the entire history of changes to the codebase. So, if they need to revert to previous versions, they just track who made specific changes and merge contributions from multiple team members seamlessly. Platform Compliance All the developers want to create games optimized for the hardware and software of each platform, as well as ensure that the game meets the requirements of each platform for publication. Platform compliance, which is one more pleasant feature of platform game development, easily helps with that.Optimizing games for specific platforms involves tailoring the game’s performance, graphics, and user experience to suit the capabilities and limitations of the target devices. This may include adjusting graphical settings, optimizing resource usage, and ensuring compatibility with the unique features of each platform, such as motion controls or touchscreens.In addition to performance considerations, developers must make sure their games comply with the technical and content requirements set forth by platform holders for publication. This includes adhering to guidelines related to file size, age ratings, localization, and compatibility with platform-specific features and services. Reusable Components Developers across different platforms prefer working with reusable components, such as code and resources, to increase efficiency in game development. With their use, developers can streamline all the processes and reduce redundancy. These components can include code snippets, libraries, assets, and design elements that perform specific functions or represent common features within the game. For example, developers can create reusable code modules for handling input, managing user interfaces, implementing game mechanics, or handling networking tasks. Similarly, graphical assets such as textures, models, and animations can be designed in a way that allows them to be easily integrated into different parts of the game across multiple platforms. Best Cross-Platform Mobile Game Engines Unity The leader of cross-platform mobile game development, Unity is a popular game development platform that allows developers to create high-quality games for iOS and Android.With Unity, developers can write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms which reduces development time and effort, as there’s no need to maintain separate codebases for each platform. Unreal Engine One of the best modern mobile game engines, Unreal Engine is well-known for its high-quality graphics, advanced rendering capabilities, and excellent toolset.As everyone knows, Unreal Engine has outstanding graphics capabilities, including advanced lighting, particle effects, and visual effects which allows developers to create visually stunning games on mobile devices that can compete with AAA titles. HTML5 cross-platform game engines When it comes to cross-platform mobile game engines utilizing HTML5 technology, several options stand out as popular choices among developers.As one of the best we can highlight Phaser (a fast and flexible HTML5 game framework that enables developers to create 2D games for mobile platforms), Cocos2d-html5 (provides tools for developing both 2D and 3D games, with features such as sprite animation, scene management, and particle effects), and Construct 3 (requires no coding knowledge, making it accessible to beginners and experienced developers alike). Godot Engine Are you looking for a powerful open-source 2D game engine? Godot Engine is an excellent choice! It is completely free to use and is released under the MIT license, making it accessible to developers of all backgrounds and budgets.This engine offers a choice between visual scripting and GDScript, a Python-like scripting language, for game development so developers with varying levels of programming experience, from beginners to advanced users, can work with Godot Engine. Cocos2d Everyone likes Cocos2d for its comprehensive set of features and tools for game development, including sprite animation, scene management, physics simulation, particle effects, and audio integration.Also, Cocos2d is well-known for its user-friendly interface and intuitive development workflow, making it accessible to developers of all skill levels. CryEngine CryEngine is a powerful and advanced cross-platform game engine that stands out in creating high-fidelity graphics and unforgettable gaming experiences. While historically known for its focus on PC and console game development, CryEngine has expanded its capabilities to support mobile game development as well.These days, the engine is renowned for its powerful graphics capabilities, including realistic lighting, advanced particle effects, and detailed environments. Gamemaker Studio GameMaker Studio features a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface that allows beginners to create games without any prior programming knowledge. It also offers a powerful scripting language called GameMaker Language for more advanced users.Also, GameMaker Studio has an amazing community that shares a lot of tutorials and online resources. And of course, it provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and sample projects to help developers learn and master their skills. Monogame MonoGame is a powerful and flexible open-source game framework that helps developers create cross-platform games with ease. It is built on the C# programming language, which offers a powerful and modern development environment for game development.Developers familiar with C# will find it easy to use MonoGame to create games, and the language’s strong typing and garbage collection make it well-suited for mobile game development. Our Cross-Platform Game Development Process 1Planning and analysisAfter conducting market research and analyzing competitor games, we define project goals, target platforms, and audience.2Conceptualization and designOur team of artists and designers generates game ideas and concepts based on analysis. After that, we create game design documents and develop wireframes to visualize the game's UI/UX.3Game developmentWe implement game mechanics, features, and content using a chosen game engine. At this stage, we also integrate third-party services for analytics, advertising, and monetization.4Game testingOur developers don’t forget to conduct alpha and beta testing phases to identify bugs, glitches, and gameplay issues.5Soft LaunchAfter all previous stages, we release the game in selected markets or to a limited audience for testing and feedback. Then, we make further refinements based on data collected during the game soft launch phase.6Game DeploymentWe are almost done! Now it’s time to prepare the game for official launch on all intended platforms and optimize game performance.7MonetizationOur team of professionals adds in-app purchases, ads, subscriptions, and premium purchases. Also, we continuously monitor and optimize revenue generation while maintaining a positive player experience. 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